September 2026 Awareness Days Calendar for EYFS, KS1, Nursery & Preschool (Free Printable Download)
Looking for September 2026 awareness days, celebrations and activity ideas for EYFS and KS1?
Our free printable September 2026 calendar highlights key special dates, festivals and seasonal opportunities for nursery schools, preschools, childminders and primary classrooms.
Use it to support playful provision, real-world connections and meaningful experiences throughout the month. Have fun! 😊
How to Use This Calendar
This calendar is designed to support enhanced provision and playful experiences. In high-quality early years practice:
Children’s interests, schemas and developmental needs remain the starting point
These dates are used flexibly as optional enhancements
You might use this calendar to:
Introduce new vocabulary or experiences
Add small enhancements to continuous provision
Make connections to children’s interests
Celebrate diversity and real-world events
You do not need to “cover” every date — choose what is meaningful for your children.
Quick Links to our September 2026 Special Date Pages | EYFS & KS1 Activity & Enhancement Ideas:
August/September - Back To School
Sun 6th - National Read a Book Day
Mon 7th - Fri 11th - Zero Waste Week
Tue 8th - International Literacy Day
Wed 9th - International Sudoku Day
Wed 9th - Teddy Bear Day
Fri 11th – Sun 13th - Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year
Sun 13th - Positive Thinking Day
Mon 14th - Sun 20th - Recycle Week
Wed 16th - National Fitness Day
Fri 18th - Sun 27th - The Great British Beach Clean
Sat 19th - International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Sat 19th - International Red Panda Day
Sun 20th - Mon 21st - Yom Kippur
Mon 21st - U.N. International Day of Peace
Mon 21st - Sun 27th - National Eye Health Week
Fri 25th – Fri 2nd Oct - Sukkot
Fri 25th - World’s Biggest Coffee Morning
Sat 26th - European Day of Languages
Overarching Themes This September 2026 | EYFS & KS1 Adventures 🍎📚
Welcome to September! This month is all about new beginnings, settling in, friendship, communication, books, languages, sustainability and caring for our world.
For many EYFS and KS1 settings, September is also a time for routines, relationships and belonging. Children may be entering a new room, class or school, so the most meaningful learning often comes through comfort, connection, repetition and play.
Below are possible connections and enhancement ideas.
These are intended as:
Starting points
Conversation prompts
Ideas to enrich provision
In practice, these should sit alongside child-led play.
🏫 New Beginnings, Belonging & Settling In 🍎
September is a natural time to support transitions, routines, confidence and relationships.
Special Dates:
August/September - Back To School
Sun 13th - Positive Thinking Day
Activity & Enhancement Ideas:
Welcome displays and “all about me” activities
Simple visual routines and self-registration
Talking about feelings, worries and things we enjoy
Friendship games, turn-taking activities and partner play
Small world or role play linked to home, school and familiar routines
Common Themes:
Back to School • Friendship • Feelings • Self-Registration • Routines • All About Me • PSED • Home Corner
These experiences are best supported through warm relationships, familiar routines and repeated opportunities to talk, play and connect.
📚 Reading, Literacy & Storytelling ✏️
September offers lovely opportunities to celebrate books, mark making, words, stories and early literacy.
Special Dates:
Sun 6th - National Read a Book Day
Tue 8th - International Literacy Day
Wed 9th - Teddy Bear Day
Sat 19th - International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Activity & Enhancement Ideas:
Cosy reading areas and book baskets
Teddy bear story times or reading picnics
Storytelling with puppets, props and small world characters
Mark making linked to favourite stories or characters
Pirate-themed role play, maps, messages and treasure hunts
Common Themes:
Books & Storytelling • Literacy • Traditional Tales • Mark Making • Teddy Bears’ Picnic • Pirates • Communication & Language
Literacy experiences are most powerful when they are playful, meaningful and linked to children’s interests.
🌍 Caring for Our World & Sustainability ♻️
September includes strong opportunities to explore waste, recycling, conservation and caring for the environment in simple, age-appropriate ways.
Special Dates:
Mon 7th - Fri 11th - Zero Waste Week
Mon 14th - Sun 20th - Recycle Week
Fri 18th - Sun 27th - The Great British Beach Clean
Sat 19th - International Red Panda Day
Activity & Enhancement Ideas:
Sorting clean recyclable materials
Junk modelling and creative reuse
Talking about looking after the classroom, garden or outdoor area
Exploring sea, beach and ocean small world play
Learning about red pandas and endangered animals through pictures, books and discussion
Common Themes:
Recycling • Beach School • The Environment • Endangered Animals • Animals • Habitats • Oceans
Learning is grounded in everyday routines, practical experiences and simple actions children can understand.
❤️ Friendship, Peace & Community 🕊️
September provides opportunities to explore kindness, cooperation, friendship and community.
Special Dates:
Sun 13th - Positive Thinking Day
Mon 21st - U.N. International Day of Peace
Fri 25th - World’s Biggest Coffee Morning
Activity & Enhancement Ideas:
Kindness jars, friendship displays or compliment circles
Circle time about helping, sharing and taking turns
Collaborative artwork or group building challenges
Role play linked to cafés, homes and community spaces
Simple conversations about peace, kindness and looking after each other
Common Themes:
Kindness & Friendship • Role Play • People Who Help Us • Cooperation • Families • Belonging
These ideas can be introduced gently through stories, play, conversation and shared routines.
🧩 Thinking Skills, Problem Solving & Healthy Minds 😊
September includes playful opportunities to develop confidence, perseverance, problem solving and positive thinking.
Special Dates:
Wed 9th - International Sudoku Day
Sun 13th - Positive Thinking Day
Activity & Enhancement Ideas:
Simple puzzles, matching games and pattern challenges
Number games using loose parts or natural objects
Talking about trying again, having a go and feeling proud
Growth mindset language during play and adult interactions
Calm spaces, reflection prompts and emotion cards
Common Themes:
Problem Solving • Maths • Puzzles • Feelings & Emotions • Growth Mindset • Mental Health
These experiences work best when children are encouraged to explore, test ideas and feel safe to make mistakes.
🏃♀️ Health, Movement & Wellbeing 👀
September is a useful time to revisit healthy routines, physical development and looking after our bodies.
Special Dates:
Wed 16th - National Fitness Day
Mon 21st - Sun 27th - National Eye Health Week
Activity & Enhancement Ideas:
Healthy snack conversations and food-themed role play
Movement games, obstacle courses and outdoor challenges
Fine motor activities to support hand strength and coordination
Talking about eyes, seeing, looking closely and noticing details
I-spy games, visual discrimination activities and observation walks
Common Themes:
Healthy Eating • Expressive Movement • Exercise • Physical Development • The Human Body • Eye Health
These ideas can be explored through active play, everyday routines and simple conversations about keeping our bodies healthy.
🕍 Festivals, Faiths & Celebrations 🌿
September includes important Jewish festivals, offering opportunities to explore family traditions, special times and celebration in a respectful, age-appropriate way.
Special Dates:
Fri 11th – Sun 13th - Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year
Sun 20th - Mon 21st - Yom Kippur
Fri 25th – Fri 2nd Oct - Sukkot
Activity & Enhancement Ideas:
Sharing books and images linked to festivals and celebrations
Exploring apples, honey and new year traditions linked to Rosh Hashanah
Talking about saying sorry, kindness and making good choices in simple terms
Creating dens, shelters or outdoor spaces linked to Sukkot
Exploring autumn foods, harvest baskets and giving thanks
Common Themes:
Festivals & Celebrations • Family Traditions • Harvest • Thankfulness • Food • Belonging
These experiences should be introduced with care, accuracy and respect, focusing on real families, traditions and meaningful connections.
🌾 Autumn, Harvest & Seasonal Change 🍂
September marks the beginning of autumn and brings rich opportunities for noticing change outdoors.
Special Dates:
Activity & Enhancement Ideas:
Exploring autumn colours, leaves, seeds and natural treasures
Harvest role play with fruit, vegetables, baskets and shops
Outdoor walks to notice seasonal changes
Printing, sorting and counting with natural materials
Talking about where food comes from
Common Themes:
Autumn • Harvest • Food • Seasons • Nature & Wildlife • Outdoor Exploration • Forest School • Beach School
Seasonal learning is most meaningful when children can observe, touch, collect, talk and wonder.
🗣 Languages, Communication & Culture 🌍
September includes opportunities to celebrate languages, words, communication and the different ways people connect.
Special Dates:
Tue 8th - International Literacy Day
Sat 26th - European Day of Languages
Activity & Enhancement Ideas:
Greeting each other in different languages
Sharing songs, rhymes or counting words from different cultures
Exploring dual-language books and labels
Celebrating home languages spoken by children and families
Listening games and sound discrimination activities
Common Themes:
Languages • Communication • Culture • Literacy • Listening • Inclusion • Belonging
These experiences help children see language as meaningful, joyful and connected to identity and community.
🌟 In Summary, September is a month full of:
Settling in, routines and belonging
Books, literacy and storytelling
Friendship, kindness and community
Recycling, conservation and caring for the planet
Movement, healthy routines and wellbeing
Autumn, harvest and seasonal change
Festivals, languages and real-world connections
“These ideas can be introduced through play, conversation, stories and small enhancements to provision.
Our calendars offer inspiration — your curriculum remains rooted in children.”
Browse ALL of our September 2026 Special Date Enhancement Activity Ideas Pages for EYFS & KS1:
Read our new Educational & Informative Event Blog Posts. Browse awareness dates below using the arrows and click through to our dedicated blog post pages to read more.
September 2026 Festivals & Celebrations | Printable Resources & Enhancement Ideas for EYFS & KS1:
Explore our dedicated festival and celebration pages. Learn more about each event and find a wealth of provision enhancement resources and activity inspiration for your setting or school by clicking on the page buttons below.
Popular September 2026 Themes | Activity Inspiration & Resources for EYFS & KS1:
Whether you’re a nursery, preschool, school, childminder or parent looking for some fresh ideas, please feel free to browse our topics using the arrows on the right to scroll through the buttons below. We’ve selected some of the most popular themes for September.
Popular EVERGREEN Themes | EYFS & KS1 Inspirational Activities & Provision Resources:
Are you looking for themes that are adored by children all-year-round? Use the arrows on the right to browse and select key themes for childminders, nurseries, preschools, reception, year 1 and year 2.
Additional Special Date Events Calendars | EYFS & KS1 Planning Support for the Whole Year
Looking to plan further ahead? Why not check out the rest of our Monthly Special Date Events Calendars?
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